The Tsuki-no-kata thread made me think about Yantsu. I see a lot of Kyokushinkai sites lump it in with the Shorin kata (Pinan, Kwanku, Gojushiho etc.). Performing however one inevitably gets the feel it is much more Nahate. I think might have started because it sounds a little like the the Shorin kata Wansu, but in terms of execution it is not even similar. A number of years ago I wrote Nakamura Sensei (of Seido Karate) who I knew at one time was a senior student of Mas Oyama Sensei and he wrote me back that Yantsu was a creation of Mas Oyama Sensei. By the way at that time I was and still am impressed by Nakamura Sensei probably one of the worlds most famous karateka for taking time to reply to an unknown in the karate world like me. Anyway I recently saw in Wikipedia that they said Yantsu originated in a branch of Shito Ryu. Any thoughts?
While we are at it does everyone feel Garyu is definitely Mas Oyama's creation?
Respectfully,
Len McCoy